UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that former Prince Andrew should testify before the US congressional committee after new information emerged revealing connections between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Following the release of over 3 million pages of confidential documents, photos were found showing Andrew at Epstein's notorious mansion.
Sir Keir Starmer, the United Kingdom's Prime Minister, stated that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should consider providing testimony to the US Congress regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender. This comes after the United States released new case documents containing photographs that increase pressure on him.
Starmer told reporters, "Anyone who has information should be ready to share it," emphasizing that one cannot claim to prioritize victims if they are unwilling to cooperate. He added that Epstein's victims must come first above all else.
These remarks follow the latest release of Epstein case documents by the US Department of Justice, which include photographs apparently showing Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a woman lying on the floor, without contextual explanation. Some images depict touching the abdomen area of a fully clothed woman, and another shows him looking directly at the camera. The setting in the photos matches the interior of Epstein's New York mansion.
Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Previously, Democratic members of Congress invited him to testify in November, with Starmer at that time stating it was a matter for him to consider personally.
The latest documents also include a 2010 email in which Epstein invited Mountbatten-Windsor to meet a 26-year-old woman. The email exchange occurred two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting a minor, for which he served 18 months in jail followed by probation. The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing, and Mountbatten-Windsor has stated he never saw or suspected behavior leading to Epstein's arrest and conviction.
Additionally, the documents suggest Epstein may have financially supported Sarah Ferguson, Mountbatten-Windsor's former wife, over several years. This includes a 2009 email requesting help with rent payments and discussions about business ideas.
Starmer was also questioned about a £10,000 payment Epstein made in 2009 to the partner of Lord Peter Mandelson, according to the released documents. Mandelson, a former British ambassador to the United States, was dismissed after messages supporting Epstein surfaced following his conviction. Mandelson stated he has publicly clarified his relationship with Epstein and has nothing further to add.
The latest document release covers over 2,000 videos and more than 180,000 photos, many with redacted information. Democratic members of the US House Judiciary Committee have urged the Department of Justice to expedite full access to the documents. They emphasized that being mentioned or appearing in the files does not imply guilt, and that many individuals referenced have consistently denied wrongdoing.
,BBC